Liquid level control device



May 27,1941. F.' J. ROUAN ETAL 2,243,536

LIQUID LEVEL CONTROL DEVICE v Filed June 9, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l I l UYUUTMLMHMH' INVENTO s @Vf/Q5 Oud ATTORN EY May 27, 1941. F.J. ROUAN ETAL LIQUID LEVEL CONTROL DEVICE 2 shee'cs-sheeu 2 v Filed June 9, 1938 INVENTQRS l f/Poua/V Patented May 27, 1941 LIQUID LEVEL CONTROL DEVICE Francis J. Rouan and Frank C. Sova, Stamford, Conn., assignors to Pitney-Bowes Postage Meter Co., Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware application June 9, 193s, seran No. 212,648

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a liquid supply device from which liquid may be directed to each of a plurality of moistening devices, within which moistening devices the liquid is maintained at different levels. The device is particularly arranged for use with a metered mailing machine of the type which is adapted to meisten the gummed naps of envelopes and the gummed surface of tape during the process of printing stamp impressions.

In the machine disclosed, letters are fed past a ap moistening device before printing is eifected and tape is passed through a moistening device after printing is effected. A separate moistening device is thus provided for the moistening of each article, one of which devices is positioned at a higher elevation relative to the other.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel form of liquid supply device from which the liquid may be supplied to each of a plurality of moistening devices, wherein the liquid level of each moistening device is different.

It is a further object to provide a liquid supply device with one chamber which has a liquid supply therein and a liquid level which is determined by the position of the mouth of an inverted liquid supply member, and another chamber which receives its supply from the rst named chamber and which includes a valve controlled means to maintain a predetermined lower level in said second chamber.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. I

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a part vertical elevational and part sectional view, generally showing the arrangement of the liquid supply and moistening devices;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of a metered mailing machine with parts broken away; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view with parts broken away and part in section, of the liquid supply reservoir.

In a metered mailing machine letters are normally fed along a horizontal plane, as indicated at I0, to a printing position where they are engaged between the type surface of a printing drum II and an impression roller I2, and after printing is effected, they are ejected into a suitable receiving receptacle. While moving toward the printing drum, the letters pass over a moistening member I3 where their gummed naps are moistened as they are passed across the lower slotted surface of the blade I3a.

The machine is also adapted to print stamp impressions upon gummed tape when desired. In Fig. 2 a tape guide member is shown at I4, which guide member is adapted to guide the tape upward from a tape supply 20, then further guide same between the printing drum II and impression roller I2. From here, the tape is guided angularly downward in the direction of the tape moistening member I5.

It will now be seen from the foregoing that the moistening device I3-I3a is of the slotted blade type, which is especially adapted for moistening the gummed flaps of envelopes, and that the moistening member I5 is of the brush moistener type, which is especially adapted for moistening the gummed surface of tape. It will also be noted that the moistener I3 is positioned at a higher elevation than the moistener I5, which consequently results in a difference in the level of the liquid in one moistener with relation to the other.

For eflicient operation, it is important that thev liquid level in each moistener unit be kept constant. Means is therefore f provided to supply liquid from a device which is adapted to control the level of the liquid in each of said moistener units. Said means comprises a liquid container I6 which is adapted to be adjustably supported on a screw stud I'I and dowels I8-I8, secured Within the base I 9 of the machine. tainer I6 is divided by means of a partition 23 so as to provide two chambers 2| and 22. Directly above the compartment 2I, a rei'lllable liquid supply vessel or bottle 24 is suspended neck down within a cradle 25, the mouth of which bottle is adapted to determine the level at which the liquid is to be maintained Within the chamber 2I. By means of a pipe connection 26, the liquid is directed from the chamber 2| to the liquid reservoir of the letter flap moistening unit I3. By this means the liquid level is maintained in said reservoir at the same level as in the chamber 2I Since the tape moistener unit I 5 is located at a position which is lower than the moistener unit I3, it would not be possible to connect said unit I5 with the chamber 2l of the liquid supply container I6. It is desirable however, from a standpoint of eiciency, to supply liquid from a single The conbottle 24 rather than from two separate bottles. The means for permitting the use of a single liquid supply bottle comprises a novel arrangement of a float valve controlled device, which includes an outlet nipple 21, extending from the partition 23 and connecting the liquid supply from the compartment 2| with the compartment 22. Connected with said nipple 21 is a short length of flexible tubing 30, which has inserted within the free end thereof a stiffening ring 28. A float 29, which is connected with said ring 28 by means of a strap 3| of predetermined length, is arranged by careful adjustment to permit a ow of liquid from the compartment 2| into the compartment 22 until the float has moved the free end of the flexible tube 3U upward above the normal level of the liquid in the compartment 2|, to thereby discontinue the supply of liquid to said compartment 22.

Said valve arrangement will establish a liquid level in the Vchamber 22, which, when directed to the reservoir of the tape moistener unit l5 through a pipe connection 32, will determine a like liquid level Within said reservoir. The valve device is of such construction, that a change in the liquid level of only a few thousandths of an inch will cause a slight drip from the tube 30 to restore the level within the chamber 22 and consequently the reservoir I5.

Having described the invention what claimed is:

A liquid level control device comprising, a liquid supply chamber having a discharge outlet therein, means to maintain a constant liquid level within said supply chamber, a second liquid supply chamber, a discharge outlet between the iirst named liquid supply chamber and the second named chamber including a flexible tube connection, anda float connected to said tube to adjust the position thereof and control the ow of liquid from the first to the second named chamber.

FRANCIS J. ROUAN. FRANK C. SOVA. 

